TO THE READER.

I NEED not apologize, I hope, for communicating to the public the life of a person so little known to it. The virtues of a private life, though they appear not to the world with all the advantage that those of a public one do, yet are of more use for its imitation, and perhaps not less difficult to be attained to in a remarkable degree.

An appearance in the heavens contrary to the usual course of nature may strike us with surprise, and convince us of a power more than human: but such a power is not less shewn in the constant motion of the planets, and the silent regularity of the world. Our reason may be affected as much by the one, as our imagination is by the other.

Every one, from a view of such a character as Cicero describes and is here exemplified, will draw the same conclusion.

Ego, siquis, judices, hoc robore animi, atque hâc indole virtutis ac continentiæ fuit, ut respueret omnes voluptates, omnemque vitæ suæ cursum in labore corporis atque in animi contentione conficeret; quem non quies, non remissio, non æqualium studia, non ludi, non convivia delectarent; nihil in vitâ expetendum putaret nisi quod esset cum laude et cum dignitate conjunctum: hunc meâ sententiâ divinis quibusdam bonis instructum atque ornatum puto. Cic. pro M. Cælio.

A

PATTERN

FOR

YOUNG STUDENTS

IN THE

UNIVERSITY,

&c.

SUCH examples as this which I am now communicating to posterity being very rare, or, through a faulty neglect, sometimes buried in silence; I think it my duty to prevent the loss of one, and to endeavour to perpetuate the memory of a young man, who in this degenerate age is scarce to be paralleled. The works of God ought always to be remembered, especially those of his grace; and a victory obtained by his favour over the world, the flesh, and the devil, is more worthy to be recorded and celebrated than a victory over an enemy in the field, where the carnage of bodies, and the worse

havoc of souls, must needs create horror to the mind of a good man when he seriously contemplates them.

AMBROSE BONWICKE, whose short life I endeavour thus to lengthen as far as I can, was the first-born child of Ambrose Bonwicke, and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Philip Stubbs, citizen of London, and several years inhabitant of the parish of St. Peter, Cornhill, where she had the happiness of improving her piety by her constant attendance on the service, sermons, and sacraments, under the most regular administration of the pious and learned Doctor Beveridge; which piety she early instilled into this her son, and had the comfort to see it increase to a very great degree. He was born at the Master's house adjoining to Merchant Taylor's School in London, on Wednesday, September 30, 1691; and being weakly and in danger of death, he was baptized privately that day sevennight, October 7. Afterwards, when he grew stronger, and able to bear it, he was carried to the parish church on St. Luke's day, October 18, being Sunday; and there received into the congregation of Christ's flock, by the Reverend Doctor Whincup, then

Rector. His father being obliged within a quarter of a year after his birth to leave that house, he was carried from thence to Headley in Surrey, where he continued till he was eleven years of age, and laid the rudiments of learning under his father.

January 11, 1702-3, he was admitted into Merchant Taylor's School, and boarded with his uncle, Mr. Henry Bonwicke, a bookseller in St. Paul's Churchyard, a man of great piety and probity; by which he had the advantages of being the more acquainted with books, and influenced by a very good example. Here he followed his studies regularly, and gained the affection of his Master, and all he conversed with: and being pretty well established in piety and virtue, was the better able to proceed in both, even after he had lost his dear uncle's example, which it pleased God to deprive him of, by taking him to himself, after he had enjoyed it somewhat more than three years. He was constant to his morning and evening private prayers, and to the public also, as far as the necessary attendance on his studies would permit. And having been confirmed in due time, and now arrived